BREAKING NEWS: Big injury blow for Mikel Arteta as another important Arsenal attacker sustained a thigh injury in training yesterday and is now ruled out against Man city today
Arsenal are preparing for a blockbuster showdown against Manchester City in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium, with the first major trophy of the English season on the line. Both sides head into the clash in strong form, with Arsenal looking to end their silverware drought and City aiming to add yet another domestic honour under Pep Guardiola.
The stakes are particularly high for Mikel Arteta’s side, who remain in contention across multiple competitions and are also pushing for the Premier League title. Victory over Manchester City would not only secure a trophy but could also provide a crucial psychological boost heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
As anticipation builds ahead of the final, attention has turned to team news, with Arsenal hoping to receive a timely fitness boost involving two key players.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta’s last message to Arsenal stars ahead of Carabao Cup final
Captain Martin Odegaard and defender Jurrien Timber are both pushing to be fit in time for the Wembley clash. Odegaard has been sidelined for around a month with a knee injury, missing six matches across all competitions. His only involvement since mid-February came as a substitute appearance in the north London derby, where he was not yet fully recovered from the issue sustained against Brentford.
Timber, meanwhile, is also racing against time after picking up an ankle injury. The Dutch defender was forced off during Arsenal’s recent Premier League match against Everton and subsequently missed the club’s Champions League victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen in midweek.
Despite those concerns, Timber’s inclusion in the Netherlands squad for the upcoming international break offers encouragement that the injury may not be serious. There remains hope within the Arsenal camp that he could still feature in Sunday’s final if he comes through the final training session unscathed.
Speaking ahead of the match, Arteta confirmed that both players remain in contention, although a final decision will depend on their condition after training. The Arsenal manager indicated that the club would assess their fitness closely before making a late call on their availability.
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“We have another training session tomorrow (Saturday), so the ones that are in contention hopefully can give us good news.”
Pushed on Odegaard and Timber specifically, he replied: “We have another session tomorrow, so let’s see if they can make it.”
While there is optimism regarding Odegaard and Timber, Arsenal will definitely be without Mikel Merino, who is sidelined for several months following surgery on a serious foot injury sustained in February.
The potential return of key players could prove decisive for Arsenal as they look to overcome a formidable Manchester City side. With silverware at stake and fine margins expected to determine the outcome, Arteta will be hoping for positive news on the injury front as his team prepares for one of the biggest matches of their season.
